Toms Shoes Challenge: 1 Million to go Barefoot

Santa Monica, CA–Dare to go bare today—barefoot that is as TOMS Shoes once again asks the world to go without shoes so that kids don’t have to with its fourth annual One Day Without Shoes event.

This year the company hopes to get one million people around the world to go without shoes to raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. Last year, more than 250,000 people went without shoes and more than 1,600 events took place around the globe.

Raising Awareness About Footwear for Children

As part of today’s festivities, two major walks take place take on the West Side Highway in New York; and another on the Santa Monica Boardwalk with founder and chief giver Blake Mycoskie. Among the celebrities participating this year include Charlize Theron, Gillian Zinser and the NY Islanders.

Millions of children around the world grow up without shoes increasing the risk of infection and disease. TOMS Shoes was founded on the “One for One” premise—for every pair of shoes someone purchases, a pair of new shoes will be given to a child in need. The idea of One Day Without Shoes came about as a way to call attention to the need for shoes around the world and the issues surrounding that need.

For more information about today’s activities see www.OneDayWithoutShoes.com. This year there’s even a new One Day Without Shoes mobile application, available on iPhone and Droid. The application will enable users to share pictures instantaneously, provide music to get people going on their barefoot adventures, check out One Day Without Shoes merchandise, and more.

TOMS’ founder and “chief shoe giver” Blake Mycoskie said, “The problem is large but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life without shoes, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions, which is why we ask everyone to join us today and participate in One Day Without Shoes.”